Electrical connector assembly and an electronic device incorporating the same

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly to be connected to a first control circuit includes a first connector including a switch unit, a second control circuit, and a first contact unit, and a second connector including a detecting circuit and a second contact unit. When connecting the first and second connectors, the connector assembly is disposed sequentially in first and second states. In the second state, where contact pads of the first and second contact units are in respective electrical contacts such that a loop is formed for a trigger signal to be transmitted to the detecting circuit for the latter to generate a detecting signal to the second control circuit, when the first control circuit generates a control signal, the second control circuit controls the switch unit to switch to a conducting state to transmit an electrical power signal to the first control circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device adapted for receiving an electrical power signal, comprising:
 a first control circuit capable of generating a control signal; and 
 an electrical connector assembly including
 a first connector that includes a switch unit, a second control circuit, a first substrate and a first contact unit, said first connector unit being disposed on said first substrate and including a first electrical power contact pad, and two first detecting contact pads, two first control contact pads and two first grounding contact pads symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said first electrical power contact pad, said first detecting contact pads being electrically connected to each other, said first grounding contact pads being grounded, said second control circuit being electrically connected to said first control contact pads, said switch unit having a first terminal adapted for receiving the electrical power signal, a second terminal connected electrically to said first electrical power contact pad, and a control terminal electrically connected to said second control circuit, said switch unit being controlled by said second control circuit to switch between a conducting state, where said first and second terminals are conducting, and a non-conducting state, where said first and second terminals are not-conducting; and 
 a second connector that includes a detecting circuit, a second substrate and a second contact unit, said second contact unit being disposed on said second substrate and including a second electrical power contact pad, a second detecting contact pad and a third detecting contact pad symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, a second control contact pad and a third control contact pad symmetrically arranged on said opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, and two second grounding contact pads symmetrically arranged on said opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, said second detecting contact pad receiving a trigger signal, said second grounding contact pads being grounded, said second electrical power contact pad and said second control contact pad being electrically connected to said first control circuit, said detecting circuit being electrically connected to said third detecting contact pad and said third control contact pad; 
 
 wherein in a process of connecting said first connector and said second connector, said electrical connector assembly is disposed sequentially in a first state and a second state; 
 wherein in the first state, said first electrical power contact pad is in electrical contact with said second electrical power contact pad, said first grounding contact pads are respectively in electrical contact with said second grounding contact pads, and said first control contact pads are respectively in electrical contact with said second and third control contact pads, such that said second control circuit is electrically connected to said first control circuit and said detecting circuit; 
 wherein in the second state, said first electrical power contact pad remains in electrical contact with said second electrical power contact pad, said first grounding contact pads respectively remain in electrical contact with said second grounding contact pads, and said first control contact pads respectively remain in electrical contact with said second and third control contact pads such that said second control circuit remains electrically connected to said first control circuit and said detecting circuit, and said second detecting contact pad forms a circuit loop with said first detecting contact pads and said third detecting contact pad such that the trigger signal is transmitted from said second detecting contact pad through the loop to said detecting circuit for said detecting circuit to generate a detecting signal based on the trigger signal and transmit the detecting signal to said second control circuit through the electrical contact between said third control contact pad and a respective one of said first control contact pads; and 
 wherein when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state, and when said first control circuit generates the control signal, said second control signal receives the control signal from said first control circuit through the electrical contact between said second control contact pad and a respective one of said first control contact pads, and controls said switch unit to switch from the non-conducting state to the conducting state based on the control signal and the detecting signal, wherein when said switch unit is in the conducting state, the electrical power signal is transmitted to said first control circuit through the electrical contact between said first and second electrical power contact pads. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger signal is a ground signal, said detecting circuit including a first switch, a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor having a first terminal that is adapted for receiving a biasing voltage and a second terminal that is electrically connected to said third detecting contact pad, said second resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said first resistor and a second terminal that is electrically connected to third control contact pad, said first switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said second resistor, a second terminal that is grounded, and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said first resistor;
 wherein, when said electrical connector assembly is in the first state, said first and second terminals of said first switch being conducting; 
 wherein, when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state, said first and second terminals of said first switch being non-conducting, and the detecting signal is generated at said first terminal of said first switch. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said switch unit includes a second switch, a third switch, a third resistor and a fourth resistor,
 said third resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said switch unit, and a second terminal, 
 said fourth resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said third resistor, and a second terminal, 
 said second switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said switch unit, a second terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said switch unit and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said third resistor, 
 said third switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said fourth resistor, a second terminal that is grounded, and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said control terminal of said switch unit; 
 wherein when said electrical connector assembly is in the first state, said first and second terminal of each of said second and third switches are non-conducting; and 
 wherein when said switch unit is in the conducting state, said first and second terminals of each of said second and third switches are conducting, such that the electrical power signal is transmitted to said first control circuit when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state and when said first control circuit generates the control signal. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said second control circuit includes an AND gate that has two input terminals respectively and electrically connected to said first control contact pads, and an output terminal electrically connected to said control terminal of said switch unit. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first control circuit is further connected electrically to said detecting circuit for receiving the detecting signal therefrom. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein one of said first, second and third detecting contact pads has a length that is smaller than that of said first and second electrical power contact pads, said first, second and third control contact pads and said first and second grounding contact pads. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first switch includes a first transistor and a first diode, said first transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said first switch, said first diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said second and first terminals of said first switch;
 wherein said second switch includes a second transistor and a second diode, said second transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said second switch, said second diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said first and second terminals of said second switch; 
 wherein said third switch includes a third transistor and a third diode, said third transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said third switch, said third diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said second and first terminals of said third switch. 
 
     
     
       8. An electrical connector assembly adapted for receiving an electrical power signal and transmitting the electrical power signal to a first control circuit, said electrical connector assembly comprising:
 a first connector that includes a switch unit, a second control circuit, a first substrate and a first contact unit, said first connector unit being disposed on said first substrate and including a first electrical power contact pad, and two first detecting contact pads, two first control contact pads and two first grounding contact pads symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said first electrical power contact pad, said first detecting contact pads being electrically connected to each other, said first grounding contact pads being grounded, said second control circuit being electrically connected to said first control contact pads, said switch unit having a first terminal adapted for receiving the electrical power signal, a second terminal connected electrically to said first electrical power contact pad, and a control terminal electrically connected to said second control circuit, said switch unit being controlled by said second control circuit to switch between a conducting state, where said first and second terminals are conducting, and a non-conducting state, where said first and second terminals are not-conducting; and 
 a second connector that includes a detecting circuit, a second substrate and a second contact unit, said second contact unit being disposed on said second substrate and including a second electrical power contact pad, a second detecting contact pad and a third detecting contact pad symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, a second control contact pad and a third control contact pad symmetrically arranged on said opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, and two second grounding contact pads symmetrically arranged on said opposite sides of said second electrical power contact pad, said second detecting contact pad receiving a trigger signal, said second grounding contact pads being grounded, said second electrical power contact pad and said second control contact pad being adapted to be electrically connected to the first control circuit, said detecting circuit being electrically connected to said third detecting contact pad and said third control contact pad; 
 wherein in a process of connecting said first connector and said second connector, said electrical connector assembly is disposed sequentially in a first state and a second state; 
 wherein in the first state, said first electrical power contact pad is in electrical contact with said second electrical power contact pad, said first grounding contact pads are respectively in electrical contact with said second grounding contact pads, and said first control contact pads are respectively in electrical contact with said second and third control contact pads, such that said second control circuit is electrically connected to the first control circuit and said detecting circuit; 
 wherein in the second state, said first electrical power contact pad remains in electrical contact with said second electrical power contact pad, said first grounding contact pads respectively remain in electrical contact with said second grounding contact pads, and said first control contact pads respectively remain in electrical contact with said second and third control contact pads such that said second control circuit remains electrically connected to the first control circuit and said detecting circuit, and said second detecting contact pad forms a circuit loop with said first detecting contact pads and said third detecting contact pad such that the trigger signal is transmitted from said second detecting contact pad through the loop to said detecting circuit for said detecting circuit to generate a detecting signal based on the trigger signal and transmit the detecting signal to said second control circuit through the electrical contact between said third control contact pad and a respective one of said first control contact pads; and 
 wherein when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state, and when the first control circuit generates a control signal, said second control signal receives the control signal from the first control circuit through the electrical contact between said second control contact pad and a respective one of said first control contact pads, and controls said switch unit to switch from the non-conducting state to the conducting state based on the control signal and the detecting signal, wherein when said switch unit is in the conducting state, the electrical power signal is transmitted to the first control circuit through the electrical contact between said first and second electrical power contact pads. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the trigger signal is a ground signal, said detecting circuit including a first switch, a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor having a first terminal that is adapted for receiving a biasing voltage and a second terminal that is electrically connected to said third detecting contact pad, said second resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said first resistor and a second terminal that is electrically connected to third control contact pad, said first switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said second resistor, a second terminal that is grounded, and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said first resistor;
 wherein, when said electrical connector assembly is in the first state, said first and second terminals of said first switch being conducting; 
 wherein, when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state, said first and second terminals of said first switch being non-conducting, and the detecting signal is generated at said first terminal of said first switch. 
 
     
     
       10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said switch unit includes a second switch, a third switch, a third resistor and a fourth resistor,
 said third resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said switch unit, and a second terminal, 
 said fourth resistor having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said third resistor, and a second terminal, 
 said second switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said switch unit, a second terminal that is electrically connected to said first terminal of said switch unit and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said third resistor, 
 said third switch having a first terminal that is electrically connected to said second terminal of said fourth resistor, a second terminal that is grounded, and a control terminal that is electrically connected to said control terminal of said switch unit; 
 wherein when said electrical connector assembly is in the first state, said first and second terminal of each of said second and third switches are non-conducting; and 
 wherein when said switch unit is in the conducting state, said first and second terminals of each of said second and third switches are conducting, such that the electrical power signal is transmitted to the first control circuit when said electrical connector assembly is in the second state and when said first control circuit generates the control signal. 
 
     
     
       11. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim  10 , wherein said second control circuit includes an AND gate that has two input terminals respectively and electrically connected to said first control contact pads, and an output terminal electrically connected to said control terminal of said switch unit. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein one of said first, second and third detecting contact pads has a length that is smaller than that of said first and second electrical power contact pads, said first, second and third control contact pads and said first and second grounding contact pads. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said first switch includes a first transistor and a first diode, said first transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said first switch, said first diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said second and first terminals of said first switch;
 wherein said second switch includes a second transistor and a second diode, said second transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said second switch, said second diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said first and second terminals of said second switch; 
 wherein said third switch includes a third transistor and a third diode, said third transistor having a drain, a source and a gate that are respectively and electrically connected to said first, second and control terminals of said second switch, said third diode having an anode and a cathode that are respectively and electrically connected to said second and first terminals of said third switch.